Memory enhancing and anti-dementia agent containing dehydroevodiamine HC1 as active ingredient

Abstract

Dehydroevodiamine-HCl, a constituent of Evodia rutaecarpa Benth. (DHED) exhibits anti-AChE activity and improves the memory impairment of animals produced by scopolamine in the passive avoidance test. Thus, DHED can be a potent, long term memory enhancing and anti-dementia agent if it is used together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating dementia in a patient, comprising: administering an effective amount of an anti-dementia agent to the patient, wherein the anti-dementia agent includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and dehydroevodiamine-HCl expressed by formula (I) as an active ingredient, wherein formula (I) is as follows: ##STR3##   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dementia is senile dementia. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dementia is vascular dementia. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the anti-dementia agent is administered intravenously. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the anti-dementia agent is administered orally. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the anti-dementia agent is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the anti-dementia agent is administered intramuscularly. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the anti-dementia agent is administered by injection. 
     
     
       9. A method for inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity, comprising: administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition to a patient to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, wherein the pharmaceutical composition includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and dehydroevodiamine-HCl expressed by formula (I) as an active ingredient, wherein formula (I) is as follows: ##STR4##   
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered intramuscularly. 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by injection. 
     
     
       14. A method for treating amnesia in a patient, comprising: administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition to the patient, wherein the pharmaceutical composition includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and dehydroevodiamine-HCl expressed by formula (I) as an active ingredient, wherein formula (I) is as follows: ##STR5##   
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
       17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered intramuscularly. 
     
     
       18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by injection. 
     
     
       19. A method for enhancing memory in a patient, comprising: administering an elective amount of a pharmaceutical composition to the patient to enhance the memory, wherein the pharmaceutical composition includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and dehydroevodiamine-HCl expressed by formula (I) as an active ingredient, wherein formula (I) is as follows: ##STR6##   
     
     
       20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally. 
     
     
       21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
       22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered intramuscularly. 
     
     
       23. A method according to claim 19, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by injection.